Pipe clamp



March 5,' 1940. w. N; MEEKS PIPE 'CLAMP Filed May 4, 1939' J6 iii-2 )02,3 2

ZZZ/[Z4722 M Z INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 5, 1940- UNITED.STATES ENTEO I E"-[1 PIPE CLAMP. William N. Meeks, Ashdown Ark.Application May 4, 1939, Serial No. 271,783 f 2Claims. (01. 24-249)" Myinvention relates to pipe clamps and the like and has as one of theprincipal objects thereof the provision of a simple and durable devicefor obtaining a positive grip upon apipe or rod whereby said pipe or redmay be easily moved,

either manually or by attaching a suitable hoisting mechanism to thepipe or rod. I

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the abovedescribed character capable of accommodating pipes or rods of varioussizes and which automatically adjusts itself to the size of the pipe orrodbeingworked upon.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of theabovedescribed character which i is efficient in operation andeconomical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claims and annexed drawing. 7 7

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the bodiment illustrated in the drawing, I providea v frame 5 having side walls 6 and l and end walls 8 and 9 connectingsaid side walls together in spaced relation and coacting therewith todefine a central aperture In which extends through the side wall 6 bywhich means the device may be placed about a pipe I I. The pipe I I maybe connected to a pump or the like (not shown) and extend upwardly fromthe ground within a tube l2 or the like and on which the device may restas hereinafter set forth.

The side walls, adjacent the end walls, are provided with bolts 113which extend across the aperture H! and have loosely mounted thereon theends of a pair of jaw members M, the latter being provided on theirunder faces, adjacent the bolts 3, with ears or slotted projections I5slidably receiving therethrough pins [6 for rotating the jaws on thebolts I3. Each of the pins 16 have fixed thereto one end of a crank armH, the opposite end'of said arm being fixed to a stub shaft [8 journaledfor rotation through the sidewall 6. The inner'face of the side wall 6is provided with'a pair of recesses l9 for receiving the crank l1therein and out of engagement with the side faces of the jaws. The outerends of the stub shafts l8 extend beyond the outer face of the side wall6 and have fixed thereto the ends of links 20, the opposite ends of saidlinks being formed with elongated slots.

receiving therein pins 2| fixed to the upper end corners of a connectingplate 22, the latter being provided intermediate the .lower end cornerswith apin 23' journaled for pivoting movement within one end of anoperating handle 24.

The operating handle'is pivoted, intermediate the ends thereto, to aprojecting endof one of the bolts 13 whereby upon movement of the handlethe free ends of said jaws will be moved towards and away from thecentral aperture l0 and the pipe H through the medium of the plate 22,links 20, stub shaftsl8, crank arm ll and pins IS. The opposed faces ofthe free ends'of diverge .towardsthe frame in, respect to. each other.Said opposed faces are. fashioned with teeth ZB'for effectively-grippingand clamping the pipe ll during the operation of the device. The endwall: 8 is fashioned with an outwardly and centrally dis po'sed handleor grip 26- as a clearly depicted in the drawing.

In use, the jaws are operated to a raised position through. the mediumof the handle 24 and said jaws are of an arcuate'configuration and '20the frameis placed about the pipe H whereupon i I the jaws are releasedand, being'of a sufiicient' weight, gravitate downwardly and engage thetherewith during such raising movement. How-;-

ever,'upon cessation of the raising movement,

the jaws will coact to firmly wedge the pipe therebetween and precludedownward movement of said pipe. Should it be desired tolower the pipe,the handle l5 may be operated sumciently to efiect disengagement of thejaws with the pipe to permit a lowering of the-latter.

From the foregoingit will be apparent thatwI a have provided a simpleand efficient device- "wherein pipes or rods may be readily raised andlowered from wells or other similar constructions.

It is obviousthat the invention is not confined to the herein describeduse therefor as it may be utilized'for any purpose to which it isadaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention'is notlimited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, asthe operation, which are capable of extended application in advanceforms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising, a frame defining acentral aperture, jaws pivoted to said frame within said aperture andformed with projections having slots, spaced shafts extending throughone side of said frame and each provided with fixed inner and outer armswithin and without said frame respectively, pins carried by said innerarms and extending within said slots and slid-ably engaging said jawsfor raising and lowering the latter, a plate. slidably and pivotallyconnecting said outer arms together, and a handle pivotedto said frameand connected to said plate for operating the latter to eifect actuationof said jaws.

same is only illustrative of the principles of '2. A device of thecharacter described, comprising, a frame defining a central aperture,spaced shafts fixed to said frame and transversing said aperture, jawspivoted to said shafts within said aperture and fashioned on their underfaces with projections formed with slots, a pair of stub shaftsextending through one side of said frame, inner and outer arms fixed tothe inner and outer ends of said stub shafts respectively, pins carriedby said inner arms and extending into said slots for sliding engagementwith said jaws whereby to raise and lower the latter, said outer armsformed with slots, a plate equipped with pins extending into said lastmentioned slots and connecting said outer arms togather, and a. handlepivotally mounted on one of said first mentioned shafts and pivotallyconnected to said plate for operating said arms to effect actuation ofsaid jaws.

WILLIAM N. MEEKS.

